Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where, after buying a new device with a shell MIUI 12, they find a lot of pre-installed software, some of which are standard tools like a calculator or a calendar, but a significant share is occupied by services that a user may never use.
The question of which applications can be removed on Xiaomi MIUI 12 system, becomes especially relevant for those who want to get the cleanest system. Standard interface tools can remove only a small part of the programs, since most of them are system.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what software is critical to the operation of a smartphone, and what you can and should get rid of. You will learn about safe ways to uninstall through your computer and specialized utilities, and get a ready list of packages for removal. Proper optimization will significantly improve the performance of the device and free up gigabytes of space.
⚠️ Note: Before any manipulation of system files is initiated, it is strongly advised to create a complete backup of data. Mistake of critical components may lead to unstable system operation or cyclic restart (bootloop).
Analysis of pre-installed software in MIUI 12
The MIUI 12 shell is known for its richness in features, but it also brings in excess software. All pre-installed software can be divided into three broad categories: Android system components, Google services, and Xiaomi’s own apps, and understanding the differences between them is the first step to cleaning up properly.
Android system components are responsible for basic functionality: calls, SMS, screen and memory management. These cannot be removed because it will cause the phone to fail. Google services (GMS) are essential for the Play Market, maps, mail and contact synchronization. Without them, the smartphone becomes a functionally limited gadget, although many people in China live without them.
The third category is Xiaomi apps and third-party software, often referred to as “bloatware,” which includes games, photo editing software, browsers, music services, and various utilities, and it is this layer of software that most often raises questions from users who want to free up the resources of the device.
- 📱 System applications: Phone, Messages, Contacts, Settings, Task Manager (removal is prohibited).
- 🔍 Google Services: Play Store, YouTube, Gmail, Maps, Drive (deletion is possible, but not recommended without alternatives).
- 🎨 Xiaomi apps: Mi Video, Mi Music, Themes, Explorer, Scanner (can be removed or disabled).
It's important to note that some apps, such as GetApps (formerly Mi Apps), are intrusive stores with content that can annoy the user with ads. their removal is one of the most popular requests among Xiaomi owners.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove components with names that contain the words "System", "Framework", "Security" or "Input" unless you are 100% sure of their purpose.
Preparing the device for removing system applications
Before you start removing hidden system applications, you need to properly prepare the smartphone. MIUI 12 does not allow you to delete most system packets by simply dragging and dropping them into the basket. USB In some cases, the presence of a computer.
The first step is to activate the developer mode. → About the phone and several times quickly press the item Version MIUI. After the notification “You became a developer” you can go to configure the debugging parameters.
Then we should include the debugging of USB. The path to this function: Settings → Additional settings → For developers → Debugging by USB. It is also recommended to include the option "Installation through" USB" and"USB-Debugging (security settings)" although to work with ADB-Teams often have enough basic debugging.
☑️ Pre-deletion check
To work, you will also need a computer with drivers installed. ADB (Android Debug Bridge is a standard toolkit for developers that allows you to send commands to a device. There is also a method of installing uninstaller applications directly on your smartphone, but they require special permissions through your computer or root rights, which are in the hands of the user. MIUI 12 default no.
If you plan to use wireless debugging (available in newer versions of Android and MIUI), Make sure your smartphone and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network, which will eliminate the need to connect the cable, but requires more precise configuration. IP-port and address.
Secure list of applications for removal
There is a list of packages that are usually deleted without any effect on system stability. However, even with a "safe" list, it is worth considering your personal smartphone usage habits. What one user does not need may be vital to another.
First of all, you can consider removing standard browsers if you use third-party solutions like Chrome or Firefox. MIUI is Mi Browser. Also often remove the standard Mi Video video player and Mi Music music player, replacing them with more functional counterparts from the Play Market.
Analytics and advertising services deserve special attention, and the bundles responsible for collecting usage statistics (MSA, Analytics) can be removed to improve privacy, but be careful: the removal of certain components may lead to the termination of widgets or news feeds.
| Title of the annex | Package Name (Package Name) | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Mi video | com.miui.videoplayer | Safe (if there is an alternative) |
| Mi Music. | com.miui.player | Safe. |
| Mi Browser. | com.android.browser | Safe (needs another browser) |
| Topics | com.android.thememanager | Dangerous (the subject can fly) |
| Scanner. | com.miui.scanner | Safe. |
Pay special attention to the com.miui.system or com.miui.core package. Deleting them will cause the interface to fail. The table above shows exactly the components that you can touch. Always check the full name of the package before confirming removal.
What to do if you remove the extra?
Removal methods through ADB and specialized software
The most reliable and safe way to remove system applications on Xiaomi MIUI 12 is the use of the command line ADB. This method does not require superuser rights (Root) and allows you to control every step of the process. SDK Platform Tools from the official developer website.
Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable. Open the command line (CMD) or PowerShell in the ADB folder and type in the adb device command. On the phone screen, you'll see a request for debugging permission -- press "Allow." If the console displays the serial number of the device, the connection is established.
To remove a specific packet, a command is used:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name.packetHere, the name.packet is replaced by the real name, for example, com.miui.videoplayer. --user 0 This means that the application is removed for the current user, but physically remains in the system partition, which makes it easy to restore it if necessary through resetting settings.
There are also graphical shells for ADB, such as Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools or Universal Android Debloater. These programs automatically scan the device, define the model and offer a list of applications with recommendations (Safe, Unsafe, Dangerous).
- 🔌 Connect your smartphone and check the display in the list of devices.
- 💻 Launch a software uninstallator or console ADB.
- 🗑️ Select targeted packages from the list of safe.
- ✅ Confirm the removal and wait for the operation to be completed.
Automatic listings can be updated, and what was secure in MIUI 11 can be critical in MIUI 12.Always double-check the packet name.
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Use the command `adb shell pm list packages` to display a complete list of all installed packages, which will help you find the exact name of the application if you are not sure of its name.
Risks and consequences of removing system components
Despite the desire to clean up the system, it is important to be aware of the potential risks. MIUI 12 is a complex ecosystem where many applications are interconnected. Removing a seemingly harmless component can cause a domino effect, leading to errors in the work of other services.
One consequence is that notifications are disrupted, and if you delete the services that handle Xiaomi or Google push notifications, apps may stop sending messages from messengers or social media before they open, and weather widgets or newsfeeds may disappear.
Another risk is interface instability: Removing components associated with the theme or system UI can cause the desktop to fly out, the notification curtain will disappear, or navigation gestures will stop working, in the worst case, the device can go into a cyclical reboot.
Recovery of remote system applications without root rights is possible only through reset to factory settings (Wipe Data), which means the complete loss of all user data, photos and settings, if you did not make a backup in advance, so the rule of "seven times measure" is more relevant here than ever.
⚠️ Note: If after deleting the applications, the smartphone begins to discharge quickly or warm up, this may indicate a conflict of processes.
Alternatives to Removal: Shutdown and Freeze
If you're not prepared for radical measures like uninstalling through ADB, there are softer ways to deal with unnecessary software, the first being to routinely disable apps through Android settings, which doesn't free up space in the system partition, but prevents the application from running and running in the background.
To disable, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select the right one and click the Disable button. This option is not available for all system packages, but it works perfectly for many pre-installed games and Google services.
The second method is to use Freezers, like Ice Box or Shizuku, which allow you to freeze applications, making them invisible to the system until you activate them yourself, a perfect trade-off for those who want to keep functionality in case they need it, but don't want the software to consume resources right now.
Freezing is also useful for testing, so you can freeze a suspicious app for a few days and observe the behavior of the system, and if there are no problems, you can proceed to completely remove it through ADB.
Using built-in MIUI optimization tools can also help. The Security app has a memory cleanup and acceleration feature that closes the background processes. While this doesn't delete applications, it helps to temporarily free up RAM.
Recovery of the system after errors
If something goes wrong during the optimization process and the smartphone starts to work incorrectly, the first thing you should do is try to reboot the device to Safe Mode. To do this, press the off button, and then press and hold the "Off" option on the screen. In Safe Mode, third-party apps do not start, which can help diagnose the problem.
If the problem is caused by the removal of the system packet through ADB (method --user 0), Application can be restored by the team:
adb shell cmd package install-existing name.packetThis command returns the packet that is remote to the user to its original state, but if the system is completely lost and the phone does not boot, only flashing it will help.
To flash back, use the Mi Flash Tool and the official firmware for your model. It is important to choose Clear All or Save User Data if the system is responsive. You can find firmware on the official MIUI forum or the Xiaomi Firmware Updater.
Always have the latest firmware version that is relevant to your region (Global, EU, CN) on hand. Using firmware from another region can lead to a bootloader blocking or banking applications (NFC Pay) inoperability.
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The safest way to optimize is to disable unnecessary applications and use ADB only for a verified list of packages, avoiding removing components with unknown features.